Sunday, August 10, 2008

My favorite Photo Detective and yours, is also a collector. What photographs have claimed the collecting interest of The Photo Detective? You will have to be here next Friday, August 15, to find out.

Of herself, Maureen says:

I feel so lucky to be able to work with historic photos! Life is such a series of twists and turns.

I've always been interested in history, but when I was a kid I thought I'd be an archeologist. I loved the whole idea of digging up stuff and making new discoveries. Traveling to neat places was of course part of the attraction. However, a single archeology class in college changed my mind about that! I spent the semester sifting through dirt looking for seeds. My history classes were much more fascinating.

A job in the college archives led to a position in the Reference Department and the photo area at the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence, Rhode Island. I stayed long enough to become the Curator of the entire Graphics department-photos, film and architectural drawings. Every single day was great. So much for counting seeds!

At one point I had to make a choice-history or photos. Contemporary picture research beckoned. I worked on press releases for television and textbooks, but missed learning about the past so much I backtracked. The Rhode Island Historical Society had an opening in the Reference Department and I jumped at the chance to return to uncovering family and local history.

Next stop was the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston, Massachusetts. With two small children at home, I decided it was time to pursue a dream. What the heck I thought. It was time to be independent. Combine family history, photo history and research and start helping folks figure out who's in those mystery photos in their shoeboxes. The rest (as they say) is history.

I LOVE what I do-writing about pictures, researching their details and connecting individuals with their lost visual family story. I hope I never have to go back to that 9-5.

Join Shades August 15, when Maureen Taylor discusses her collection and treats us to a glimpse of photographic history.

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About Shades Of The Departed

I have been collecting photographs for over twenty years. This blog will discuss that collection, the types of categories I've developed for that collection, and the types of photographs I collect.
I will also share with you what I've learned or am learning about scanning, creating a database, analyzing and dating my collection, and anything else that strikes my fancy related to photography and my collection.

About The Collector

I am fascinated by the clues left in the photographs I collect. Every picture is a miniature mystery and I love a mystery.

My grandfather was a photographer who traveled with the famous Burton Holmes. I am fortunate to have original photographs by
both men.

When I was ten my grandfather gave me a camera as a birthday gift. It was evident that I did not inherit the "photographer gene."
I have taken only one photograph in my entire life that I liked, but I know a good one when I see it.

I am a great appreciator.

Fortunately, I don't take myself too seriously. I know enough about
collecting photographs to know I don't know everything, but I am learning.